2004-2005
XAVIER HOCKEY

Overall Record
16 - 7

Team Honors:

• State Division II Semi-Finalists
• Southern Connecticut Conference Division II Championship Finalist
• Elevated to Division I status for the 2005 season

Season in Review:

Varsity Regular Season:

Co-Captains:	Bryan Farrington, Mike Ryan
Alternate-captains:	Andre Picard, Jeff Shew

The 2004-2005 Varsity hockey season started off on a monumental high note with a 3-1 win over (the then number one ranked team in Connecticut hockey) Lyman Hall. This was the first time Xavier beat Lyman Hall in seven tries since the inception of the Xavier Hockey Program in 2001. This hard fought battle was highlighted by senior goaltender David Gorski turning away 41 of 42 shots by a very powerful Trojan offense.

Falcon goals came from senior Dexter Carnot, juniors Aaron Fredericks and Mike O’Hara. The hundreds of fans that witnessed this landmark victory at Xavier’s home (the Spurrier-Snyder Rink of Wesleyan University), along with many high school hockey fans throughout the state, determined that this victory truly placed Xavier on the map of Connecticut high school hockey for years to come.

Other high lights that occurred during the 2004 – 2005 season included solid victories against Division I foes Hand (4-3 on 12/22/04) and North Haven (5-4 on 2/2/05) both finalist in the 2004 CIAC Division II Tournament that was ultimately won by North Haven. The February victory against North Haven gave the Falcons enough regular season wins to qualify them for the 2004-2005 CIAC State Tournament after a one year hiatus in 2004.

Xavier ended the 2005 regular season with exciting back-to-back overtime victories against East Catholic and perennial rival Cheshire. Both games were won by some stellar goaltending from senior Trevor Fredericks 5-4 and 4-3 respectfully. The Falcons ended the regular season with a strong 14-6 record, 96 goals scored for, 56 goals against and seeded 5th for the upcoming CIAC Division II Tournament.

SCC Divisional Championship:
The February 12th game against Branford was billed as the SCC divisional championship game as each team came into the contest undefeated in SCC DII play. Playing in front of a very loud, supportive home crowd that included the Xavier “Black Hole” Student Section, the contest lived up to it’s expectations as it ended tied in regulation 3-3 with all three Xavier goals coming from senior Co-Captain and team scoring leader Mike Ryan. With opportunities coming for both teams in the overtime period, Branford was first to find the twine and win the game 4-3 and take home the 2005 DII SCC championship. In its 5 year existence, Xavier has won the SCC DII Division title once in 2003.

State Tournament:
To-date, the Xavier High School Hockey program has qualified for the Connecticut High School State Tournament 3 out of the 5 years of its very young existence. In 2005, the Xavier Falcons entered the Division II State Tournament the number 5 seed out of 21 teams. In the opening round, in front of their very supportive home crowd, the high powered Falcons quickly dispensed of play-in winner and 12th seed Sheehan 7-0. The Falcons then hosted a tough Rockville team and won a hard fought 5-3 battle that was sealed with a closing minute empty net goal by senior Co-Captain Bryan Farrington. With this quarter final victory, the Xavier Falcons, for the first time in their short history, were on their way to the showcase state tournament at the Ingalls Rink of Yale University to compete in the 2005 CIAC DII Frozen Four.

In the semi-final game Xavier was matched up with returning 2004 DII semi-finalist Trumbull. Trumbull’s Frozen Four experience proved valuable as they quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead within the opening 2:43 of the first period. After settling down and ending the first period down 2-0, the Falcons then allowed a power play goal in the second period giving Trumbull a 3-0 lead heading into the final period. Xavier then proved its resolve, pride and determination by executing an excellent, hard fought, gritty 3rd period comeback getting two goals late in the stanza from juniors Reid Cote and Anthony Leone. During the closing minutes of the game the Falcons pressure on Trumbull was relentless with numerous scoring attempts just missing or being saved by a frantic Trumbull goaltender. Unfortunately an injury to one of the on ice officials caused a sizable delay in the closing minutes of the game that gave Trumbull an opportunity to regroup and ice the 3-2 victory.

JV Season:
The 2004-2005 Junior Varsity season was also deemed a huge success especially after numerous weather related cancellation that caused a sizable re-shuffling of the original 17 game schedule. The team ended its season with an overall record of 10-4 with impressive wins over East Haven, Southington, Tri-Town, Fitch and Newington.

The season long work ethic and game performances from all of the JV players proves that the future is very bright for the Xavier hockey program. Lead by head coach Dean Fredericks, the JV program has been in existence since the inception of Xavier Hockey in 2001 and has proven to be an important component of the overall program’s success.

In 2005 coach Dan DeConti will be taking over as head coach of the JV program, with assistance coming from Fr. Greg Galvin, as Coach Fredericks will be taking on increasing responsibilities for the varsity team.

The Xavier High School JV program will always to be looked upon as the main feeder to the varsity squad and expectations within this program will be even greater now as we move into a new era of competition amongst the very tough Division I ranks of Connecticut high school hockey.

Future:
As a result of the very successful 2004 – 2005 campaign the Xavier Hockey program was elevated to the ranks of Connecticut Division I hockey and is aligned within the very competitive Southern Connecticut Conference with the likes of Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame – West Haven, West Haven, East Haven, Hamden, Lyman Hall, North Haven and Hand – Madison.

Head Coach Kevin O’Leary and assistants Steve Kuczynski, Dean Fredericks, Dan DeConti, and Fr. Greg Galvin are looking forward to seeing the strength and talents of Charlie Walsh, Mike O’Hara, Aaron Fredericks, Anthony Leone, Mike Kurys, Nick DeConti, Darren Tallie, Chris Clancy, Mike DelBuono, David Raczka, Kevin Farrington and a host of other returning and incoming players going up against some of the toughest competition within the state.

2004/2005 Individual Honors:
Mike Ryan (Forward)

• 2004 CIAC DII All State team – Second Team
• 2005 CIAC DII All State team – First Team
• 2005 All SCC Team – First Team

All time leading scorer for Xavier Program (63 goals, 48 assists and 111 total points)

David Gorski (Goaltender)

• 2005 CIAC DII All State Team – Second Team
• 2005 All SCC Team – Second Team
• All time leader of games played and wins for Xavier Program (48 games played, 30 wins)

Dexter Carnot (Forward)

• 2005 All SCC Team Seventh Man Award

Team Awards:

• Senior Award: Trevor Fredericks, Andre Picard, Bryan Farrington
• MVP Offense: Mike Ryan
• MVP Defense: David Gorski, Charlie Walsh
• Most Improved: Mike O’Hara
• Rookie of the year: Nick DeConti
• Seventh Player: Dexter Carnot
• Sportsmanship Award: Jeff Shew